UC student Angela Smit manages dual challenge

Few University of Canterbury (UC) students
fit their studies around an international sporting career.
Top New Zealand middle distance athlete Angela Smit is
one.

Smit, who is studying a Bachelor of Arts in
Education, is New Zealand’s number one ranked 800m track
athlete. She finished fifth last weekend in the World
Diamond League meeting at the London Olympic Stadium, in
front of 68,000 fans. She now heads to Moscow for the World
Championships from August 10 to 18.

``I really like the
training / study lifestyle as it is a good mix to keep my
brain stimulated and body active and fast. It can be full on
at times, especially when I have a training schedule and
some big races and a lot of university work to do at the
same time.

``I just try to prioritise as best I can and
get it done. It has been really good doing only two or three
papers a semester so that I can manage study and competing
better.

``I had to sit an exam in Paris two years ago
which was a cool experience Normally I only miss a few weeks
of UC studies while competing in the European season. But
this year I am staying in England till the end of the year
and world championships are just 10 days away. But I will be
back to UC early next year where I will continue my
degree.

``I really want to be a primary school teacher and
help the future generation. I love children. But I don't
mind if it takes me slightly longer to get my degree as my
running is definitely a huge priority for me right now. I
have some big goals and want to be an Olympic
medallist.

``UC Sport and the University of Canterbury
Athletic Club has been a huge help to my running. Matt
Ingram and Grant Robertson have managed the new athletes
development programme really well and are running some great
workshops.

``The University of Canterbury Athletic Club is
really awesome to be a part of since I joined three years
ago.

``My athletics can help me with my teaching degree
and vice versa. My athletics experiences can help me as a
teacher to help children follow their dreams and my story
can help them realise that they can do it if they put the
work in.

``I love being a part of UC because it has got
awesome degree programmes and study facilities, very helpful
and friendly lecturers, a nice campus with a very lively
atmosphere, a good gym and sport structure, lots of fun
events and a lot of awesome students.’’Smit, who
will turn 22 during the world championships in Moscow,
finished fourth in the 800 metres and fifth in the 1500m at
the World University Games in Kazan this
year.

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